Address: 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, US
Website: www.huntington.org
Phone: 626 405 2203
Railroad and real estate Henry E. Huntington was an avid art collector, historian, and horticulturist. His estate in San Marino houses his collection and impressive gardens. Among the best is the 9-acre Japanese garden, complete with a 19th-century Japanese house, and the 100-year-old Desert Garden, which features more than 5,000 species of succulent plants. One of the Huntington’s more recent projects has been the completeion of the Chinese Garden, Liu Fang Yuan, complete with a peaceful manmade lake, fragrant flower trees, and a tea house. Last year, the Huntington launched another new project, Huntington Ranch, to research sustainable urban gardening. While it remains a closed research facility, the Ranch offers public talks and programs, as well as a great entertainment blog.